Mark Hess
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                                             
May 29, 1992
(Phone:  202/453-4164)

Jeffrey Carr/Barbara Schwartz
Johnson Space Center, Houston
(Phone:  713/483-5111)

RELEASE:  92-77
 
ASTRONAUT BUCHLI TO RETIRE AND LEAVE NASA
 
     Astronaut James F. Buchli (Col., USMC) will retire from the 
U.S.Marine Corps and leave NASA in August to accept the position 
of Manager, Station Systems Operations and Requirements with 
Boeing Defense and Space Group, Huntsville, Ala.
 
     Buchli is a veteran of four Space Shuttle missions:  
STS-51C, a Department of Defense flight in January 1985; STS-61A, 
the West German Spacelab D 1 mission in November 1985; STS-29, a 
mission to deploy a Tracking and Data Relay Satellite, in March 
1989; and STS-48 in September 1991 on which the Upper Atmosphere 
Research Satellite (UARS) was deployed. 
 
     Buchli also has served as Deputy Chief of the Astronaut 
Office since March 1989.  Since becoming an astronaut in August 
1979, Buchli has held a number of technical assignments, 
including spacecraft communicator in Mission Control and in the 
Astronaut Office Operations Development Branch working on 
controls and displays for the Shuttle and Space Station Freedom.
 
     "I'm grateful for my years of active service as a Marine and 
as part of the NASA team.  It has allowed me to be a part of two 
of the finest organizations in the world.  I'm looking forward to 
changing career directions and remaining involved with the 
outstanding people who make up our space team," Buchli said.
 
     "Jim has made significant contributions to the Astronaut 
Office and to the space flight program during his tenure here.  
We'll miss him and wish him continued success.  His experience on 
four Space Shuttle flights and his managerial abilities will be 
assets
to Boeing in their Space Station Freedom efforts," Donald R. 
Puddy, Director of Flight Crew Operations, said.
                              -end-